Situated on the emblematic Dorset coast along the English Channel, the ancient town of Lyme Regis is renowned for its towering white cliffs and sand and shingle beaches. In 1811, a 12-year-old girl discovered the world’s first complete ichthyosaur skeleton on the rocky shores of the bay, and fossil hunting has been a popular pastime here ever since. Pay a visit to the free Lyme Regis Museum to learn about the life of the town’s famous paleontologists and get a sense of what the world was like millions of years ago. If you get bitten by the fossil bug, Dinosaurland Fossil Museum has tens of thousands of specimens to explore, and the ammonite pavement — a limestone layer packed full of ammonite fossils — draws visitors to Monmouth Beach to the west of town.

Lyme Regis’ position on the Jurassic Coast — the only natural UNESCO World Heritage Site in England — provides easy access to nearly 100 miles of towering cliffs and hidden coves, from Golden Cap's epic views to the red rocks at Beer. Back in town, stone cottages and colourful shop fronts line Broad Street, and traditional pubs serve up platters of cold-water prawns and locally harvested oysters.

Exeter Airport (EXT) is less than an hour from Lyme Regis, but larger Bristol Airport (BRS) — 90 minutes away — and London’s Heathrow Airport (LHR) — three hours away — are more convenient entry points for international visitors. If you’re planning on making use of public transport, the nearest rail link is Axminster, where trains arrive from London Waterloo in just over 2.5 hours. You’ll then need to take a taxi or hop on a bus to town, which takes around 15 minutes. Lyme Regis itself is fairly easy to navigate, with most of the main attractions within easy walking distance of Lyme Regis holiday cottages or connected by bus. A rental is handy to explore at your leisure, but the local bus service also operates from Exeter to Poole and back, including a multitude of stops along the coast.

Lyme Regis has a Mediterranean climate, with temperatures often much higher than in other parts of the country. If you’re hoping to take in some of this famous coastline in British sunshine, it’s best to book your Lyme Regis holiday letting between June and October, when rainfall is at a minimum and temperatures are relatively warm. The summer season is kicked off with the weekend music festival Jazz Jurassica in May and finishes with the Food Rocks Festival in September, which showcases local seafood and other ingredients. When long summer days turn to crisp autumn ones, temperatures start to dip and the chance of rain increases. But a cold-weather coastal trip to Lyme Regis can be just as enjoyable if you bundle up and refuel with cosy pub lunches by the fire.

The Cobb

Built to protect the town from the elements, Lyme Regis’ curved harbour is a popular meeting point on summer evenings when families tuck into traditional fish and chips in the sea air. Many fishermen from the local area still head out from here on a regular basis, and trips for mackerel, deep-sea excursions, and sightseeing tours are available to visitors. You can also hop on a rigid inflatable boat (RIB) for an adrenaline rush on a 30-minute speed ride or a more sedate cruise.

The Undercliffs National Nature Reserve

Get a taste of the untamed beauty of the Jurassic Coast at the Undercliffs National Nature Reserve. Pass the Cobb and keep walking until you reach the sign for the South West Coast Path, or access the reserve from the top of town. A rugged coastline of chalk and sandstone sits alongside dense woodland and a variety of wildlife. Spring sees carpets of bluebells and daffodils unfurl amongst the trees.

The Town Mill

Find this ancient working watermill at the end of Mill Lane, past rows of pastel-hued cottages. Since the 1300s, this building has been providing the town and surrounding area with flour. Now run as a charitable trust, the complex has expanded to become a hub for local creative businesses. You can check out work by the town’s artists, pick up treats baked on-site, and even sample a beer from the brewery. Tours of the mill are available, but they must be booked in advance.